Track-clearer.



PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

W. E. KNOWLTON. TRACK GLEARER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1905.

ILLIAM 'KNOWLTON, or PORTLAND,

Specification of I Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern.- 4

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. KNOWL- TON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of. Portland, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Track-Olea'rers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to .a trac-k clearer adapted particularly to be used for removingv ice and hard snow from street-car tracks.

The accumulation of ice and hard snow between the rails of street-car tracks causes great trouble and expense in northern climates. 1 until the motor-casing drags against it, re quiring a g1 eat amount of extra power to run the cars. The rails also are at the bottoms of deep grooves, and any added quantity of ice or snow quickly blocks the track, making it diflicult to run the cars.

a track-clearer which will readily break up the ice, so that it can be removed by a plow or other like means, and I accomplish this obj ect by the use of a series of pivoted disks ada ted to roll on the ice and set at an acute ang e with the line of motion of the car, plow, or other vehicle to which the disks are secured.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a lan of the under side of the beam to which t e rolling disks are attached; and Fi 2 is'a side elevation of a car, showing the dis s in position. I

A represents a car or other suitable vehicle,

and B is the beam, to which the disks O are secured. The disks are made, preferably, of cast iron or steel, thick in the center and sharp at the edge, andthey are pivoted to suitable bearings D, which are fastened by The ice accumulates in the center so far as I am the ice and to crowd it to one side. aware, no mechanical appllance has ever by striking crossings, &c., as the they will make parallel cuts. The inolina- 'tion of the disks on one side of the center line of the track is the reverse of that on the op posite side, so that the lateral strain due to the action of the disks will be equalized, and. the an 1e issuch asto throw the ice outward from t e center.

The beam is provided with suitable means for raising and lowering. As here shown, it is guided by uprights d, passing through guides d, and a lever e furnishes means for raising and lowering the beam.

In operation it will be seen that the disks have a. rolling motion which acts to loosen There is little or no danger of injuring the apparatus readily roll over any obstructions. These disks may be of any suitable material; but in practice I prefer to make them of cast-iron, with comparatively sharp edges and thickened centers. They may also be supported in any suitable manner, either by means of a beam, as here shown, or any other framework. It is evident that the disks maybe used between the tracks or at the sides, or indeed they may be used in any position when ice is to be out, whether on street-car hatfitii as, ie'o." Application filed February 20,1905. Serial No. 246,442.

sks will' each side, following diagonal lines, so that I tracks, highways,or in any other situation.

The edges of the disk need not necessarily be formed smooth, as here shown, as they may be corrugated or formed with teeth or otherwise. i

I claim 1. In a track-clearer for removing ice, the combination of a car or other vehicle'provided with a series of pivoted disks set at an acute angle to the line of motion of'the'car and adapted to roll on the ice. I

2. In a track-clearer for removing ice, the combination of a car or other vehicle provided with a series of pivoted disks with thickened centers and sharpened edges set at an acute angle to the line of motion of the car and adapted to roll on the ice.

3. In a ti ack-clearer for removing ice the Signed at Portland this 15th day of Februcombination of a car or other vehicle, a beam ary, 1905.

beneath said car, means for raising and lowering said beam and a series of disks pivoted WILLIAM KNOWLTON' 5 on the under side of said beam and set at an Witnesses:

acute angle with the line of motion of the car S. W. BATES,

and adapted to roll on the ice. C. M. GODFREY. 

